PHVIT9530 Assessment and Methods of Measurement Course description

This course covers research into key phenomena originating from human experience of health and illness. Such phenomena can be perceptions of quality of life, hope, coping, pain, body, dignity, and suffering, and serve as the basis for developing concepts and theories in the health sciences. The course covers different methods for concept and theory development; for example, the hybrid model of concept development, semantic concept analysis, Walker and Avant's model for theory development, and grounded theory. The methods are applied to selected phenomena, concepts, and theories.

This course is primarily aimed at PhD candidates admitted to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences but is also open to other applicants. Admission requirements are a completed major, master's degree (120 credits) or equivalent qualification.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate

• is at the forefront of knowledge of conceptual understanding and of theories on the significance of different types of scientific instruments for measuring, testing, evaluating, and assessing health
• is at the forefront of knowledge of national and international mapping systems for health indicators

Skills

The PhD candidate can

• critically evaluate different theories and approaches with methodological significance for measuring, testing, evaluating, and assessing
• apply measurement methods, testing, evaluation, and assessment to their own research project
• critically reflect on and evaluate different psychometric properties of measurement methods, tests, evaluations, and assessments
• address the results of mapping, testing, and evaluation applied in health science research

General competence

The PhD candidate can

• discuss ethical and social issues associated with different types of measurement methods, testing, evaluation, and assessment
• present and discuss knowledge of methods of measurement, testing, and evaluation in the health sciences

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, and self-study. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

None

Candidates must write an essay based on a concept and/or theory of their choice and apply principles from the methods of concept and theory development presented in the course. The essay must consist of up to 5,000 words and must be submitted no more than 2 weeks after the end of the course.

All

Grades are awarded on the basis of pass or fail.

One internal examiner

This course is primarily aimed at PhD candidates admitted to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences but is also open to other applicants. Admission requirements are a completed hovedfag, master's degree (120 credits) or equivalent qualification.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.